(Calgary) Canadian energy producers are bracing for another season of drought and wildfires in the West.
Last year, hot, dry weather caused oil and gas companies in Western Canada to temporarily halt production as wildfires raged in major fossil fuel-producing regions.
These decisions were taken on a precautionary basis and no significant damage to energy production infrastructure occurred.
NuVista Energy President and CEO Jonathan Wright said his company temporarily closed all of its facilities in Grande Prairie, Alta., last May when fires made road access to the sites impossible. of the company.
In a phone interview on the sidelines of an energy industry conference in Toronto on Tuesday, Mr. Wright said that if there were another wildfire season this year, NuVista staff would use satellite imagery to monitor the development and progression of any fire and would immediately cease production, if necessary.
Drought is also expected to pose a risk to energy producers this year, particularly natural gas operators who use large amounts of water in their fracking operations.
Birchcliff Energy President and CEO Chris Carlsen explained that his company has built its own water storage tanks. He said he was confident he had enough water in reserve to execute his 2024 drilling program.